Originally posted: 11/13/2019

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you,” (16:7).

Do you need help today? Or do you have family or dear friends enduring unrelenting sorrows and suffering? Do you find yourself wishing, longing to do something, to somehow help, but feel helpless?

This morning I was reminded, in times such as these, it is critical to stand firm in the promise of Jesus, Who sent the Help we need; He sent Him, Our Holy Helper.

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged,” (16:7-11).

Jesus described the Holy Spirit, using the Greek word, “Paraclete.”

From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: “3875. παράκλητοςparáklētos; gen. paraklḗtou, masc. noun from parakaléō (3870), to comfort, encourage or exhort. It is properly a verbal adj. referring to an aid of any kind.”

Consider Him, Our Holy Helper

In our place of need He is there… “to comfort, encourage or exhort… with aid of any kind.”

• Concerning sin… Our Holy Helper exhorts the world to see the need for salvation found only in Jesus.
  • “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,”  (John 3:16).
  • “…the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead… ¹² And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4: 10,12).

• Concerning righteousness… Our Holy Helper encourages believers to take hold of the righteousness provided in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
  • He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21).
  • …and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, (Philippians 3:9-11).

• Concerning judgment… Our Holy Helper comforts believers with the ultimate triumph and peace we have in Jesus.
  • “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (16:33).
  • The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you, (Romans 16:20).
  • These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful, (Revelation 17:14).

How do we respond to Him, Our Holy Helper?

His Help always begins by pointing us to our need for salvation. Have you responded to the Holy Helper’s exhortation to be saved?

… what must I do to be saved?” … “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:30-31).

When we are saved, the Holy Spirit is given to us as Our Holy Helper, to help in every need. After salvation, Jesus points out two other great needs necessitating the work of Our Holy Helper:

1.  Our Holy Helper faithfully encourages us to understand our righteousness is not of ourselves; it is by faith in Jesus Who lives in us.
   •  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me, (Galatians 2:20).
2. Our Holy Helper comforts us with His presence and peace in the midst of our tribulations. May we so grow in faith to trust His provision and be used to share the comfort we have received from Him with others.
   • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
     

Today, may we rest in Him, Our Holy Helper; in every place of need… He is there.

Let’s Grow Together!